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30/10/2007
Big Week for Britain's Best Boxers
This week could give a huge boost to British boxing as 5 Englishmen and 1 Scotsman have battled their way through to the last 16 in the XIV AIBA World Boxing Championships being staged at the Pavilion, University of Illinois at Chicago.
Besides this championship being the first and main qualifying event for the 2008 Beijing Olympics they are Chicago's opening skirmish in the Windy City's bid to land the 2016 Olympics.
Countries qualify via regions for the Olympic Games. Unfortunately Britain has to qualify through the most difficult route, Europe. Even though Europe wins the most medals in the eleven weights at amateur boxing, on average, only 8 places are available for European boxers at the Olympic Games in each weight. Any European boxer who makes the last 8 in all weights, bar 91kg heavyweights and +91kg superheavyweights who must reach the last four, will qualify by right. In whatever weights Europe does not manage to fill its quota of, on average, 8 boxers per weight the remaining qualification spots will be competed for at European qualifying tournaments in Italy and Greece on 24th February and 7th April 2008 respectively.
Wales sent a very young team of four boxers under the guidance of Head Coach Tony Williams and Assistant Coach former British Welterweight Champion and World title contender Colin Jones. The four Welshmen boxed creditably, but because of their age were actually here for experience rather than results.
20 year old 54kg bantamweight Joe Murray, England, (Mosside ABC, Manchester) boxes one of the great characters of international amateur boxing Lewis Richard Bruno Julie (MRI) on Tuesday afternoon 30th October 2007 in the last 16. His third bout of the tournament. A win sees Joe qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
20 year old 64kg Light Welterweight Bradley Saunders, England, (South Durham ABC) boxes American speedster Javier Molina on Tuesday evening 30th October 2007 in the last 16. His third bout of the tournament. A win sees Brad qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
23 year old 91kg Heavyweight Steve Simmons, Scotland, (Leith Vic AAC) boxes Milorad Gajovic (MNE) on Tuesday evening 30th October 2007 in the last 16. His second bout of the tournament. As a heavyweight Steve needs to progress to the last four to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
22 year old 60kg Lightweight Frankie Gavin, England, (Hall Green ABC, Birmingham) boxes fellow southpaw equally slippery Ramal Amanov (AZE) on Wednesday afternoon 31st October 2007 in the last 16. His third bout of the tournament. A win sees Frankie qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
22 year old 81kg Tony Jeffries, England, (Sunderland ABC) boxes ultra awkward nuggety Ramazan Magomedov (BLR) on Wednesday evening 31st October 2007 in the last 16. His third bout of the tournament. A win sees Tony qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
23 year old +91kg Super Heavyweight David Price, England, (Salisbury ABC, Liverpool) boxes strong upright Primislav Dimovski (MKD) on Wednesday evening 31st October 2007 in the last 16. His second bout of the tournament. As a super heavyweight David needs to progress to the last four to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
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